On Friday, the UN Security Council unanimously approved the deployment of 60 weapons permit monitors to Libya.
The resolution, which easily cleared the international body, also called on the Libyan government for a national agreement to prepare for “free, fair and inclusive” national elections in December.
“Free, fair and credible elections enable the Libyan people to elect a representative and unified government and strengthen Libya’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity,” the resolution said.
It further called for “ensuring the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and including young people.”
Jan Kubis, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterre’s Special Envoy for Libya, urged Libyan lawmakers on March 24 to adopt the necessary legislation by July “so that elections can be held as planned. Friday’s resolution states that legislation must be in place by 1 July.
A ceasefire between the UN-recognized government and forces loyal to warlord Khalifa Haftar has been largely held since it was mediated in October, and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had demanded that international monitors be deployed to monitor the situation.
Libya has been embroiled in conflict since former long-time strongman Moammar Gadhafi was overthrown in 2011 amid a mass uprising backed by NATO. Civil war broke out in the aftermath of his shooting, and it has continued for almost a decade.
Libya is expected to hold nationwide parliamentary and presidential elections in December after voting has been delayed for three years amid a conflict between government and Haftar forces.
In early February, the war-torn country began a new phase of its transition to Gadhafi after a temporary executive was elected to lead the country until the December elections after a decade of chaos.
At a potential turning point welcomed by key powers, four new leaders from Libya’s west, east and south are now facing the task of uniting a nation divided by two rival administrations and countless militias.
Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, a 61-year-old engineer, was elected interim prime minister by 75 Libyan delegates at UN-led talks outside Geneva, culminating in a dialogue process launched in November.
The new premiere called for “reconstruction of the country” and promised to be “ready to listen to and work with all Libyans, regardless of their ideology, affiliation or region.”
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